MZ/MuZ Riders

by **comanche91** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:02 pm

I went on a relatively short trip today via the backroads to Birmingham, AL; about a 150 miler. Got back a couple of hours ago. I'm just now about able to open my hands and grip my brewski can with one hand. The bike ran great but dayem, I'm either completely out of practice, or I have bad handlebar vibes. I suspect a little of both. It didn't seem too terrible and was most evident at 70MPH+ or so, but I've got to try something to make it better. Like maybe one of those Bar Snakes, lead shot in the bar, or ??. But it's a single, so maybe I just live with it. No motor rubber dampening on these bikes that I can find. Improvements, suggestions very much appreciated; it's a PITA sucking brew with two hands. :-D

by **DAVID THOMPSON** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:08 pm

check for flat spots on front and rear tires
and yes my Saxon Tour is a bit ruff also
and if you have owned any bmw's in the past then you have been spoiled
when it comes to a fast ride to some where
my saxon tour and 660 traveller are 300 miles a day bikes
my bmw r50s from 1962 will do 900miles in 17 hours
there is a difference between a bike and a motorcycle
in the 1960's and 70's BMW spoiled us with 2 wheeled cars
do not take me wrong i like the mz's i have ..
but if i want to go some where far away fast give me a good running r69s/r50s
or for real fast a r90/6 engine in a r69s frame
yes i have rode the new stuff i will still take a r69s any time
dave
ps if some one took the balance shaft out of that rotax motor before you got it
i may be able to feel you vibrate all the way up here in WV

by **comanche91** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:32 pm

DAVID THOMPSON wrote:check for flat spots on front and rear tires
and if you have owned any bmw's in the past then you have been spoiled
when it comes to a fast ride to some where
dave
ps if some one took the balance shaft out of that rotax motor before you got it
i may be able to feel you vibrate all the way up here in WV

Yep Dave, been spoiled, a couple of R60/5's w. full fairing in my younger days; up and down the East Coast from Norfolk to CT and back in my Navy days all day long.

Tires are most likely original; bike had about 7000 km on it when I got it, but no flat spots evident. But I need to replace them over the winter. Any idea what brand the OEM tires were for the US imports?

Rotax balance shaft? No idea. Bought it from the second owner, and the engine as far as I've been into it so far looks like it hasn't been molested.

by **comanche91** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:37 pm

Just for grins I installed a Bar Snake last weekend on the SilverStar w. new grips, and ran the same 150mi. trip down to Birmingham. I don't know what helped more, the new grips or the Bar Snake, but it knocked off the vibes by at least 50%, maybe more. Still not a Beemer, never will be, but it's very tolerable now, so I'm happy. About the only similar bike I can compare to are the BSA Victors and Gold Stars I've had in the past. The MZ is much smoother than those were. :-D